Streaming the Super Bowl: 2014 vs. 2015

In 2014, FOX was home to the Super Bowl. This year, the host
network is NBC, and while there are a few similarities in how the broadcast,
both over-the-top (OTT) and linear, is going to work this time around, there
are some differences as well.

If you’ll recall, last time the big game was
available on the foxsports.com official website. Likewise, it will be available
for streaming via nbcsports.com for 2015.

Furthermore, FOX granted free access to their Fox Sports GO
app for 27 hours last year, and NBC is following suit by allowing viewers to
utilize their NBC Sports Live Extra app (iOS,
Android)
and website without cost – however
they appear to be lowering the ante by providing streaming for approximately 11
uninterrupted hours. The “Super Stream Sunday” content will start showing at
noon EST and will not require any sort of authentication.

“We are leveraging the massive digital reach of the Super Bowl to help raise
overall awareness of TV Everywhere by allowing consumers to explore our vast
TVE offering with this special one-day-only access,” said
Alison Moore, GM and EVP, TV Everywhere, NBCUniversal.

In addition to the football game, the stream will also include
pre- and post-event coverage, as well as the halftime show, which features Katy
Perry and Lenny Kravitz. A new episode of James Spader-helmed crime drama “The
Blacklist” will cap off the evening and conclude the online activities.

The game will also be available through the NFL Mobile app,
however one must subscribe to Verizon in order to use it.

Worth noting, those who decide to stream the
game will not see the same advertisements as traditional television viewers
(this was the case last year as well), but MultiChannel
reports that “all digital ad buyers have purchased TV ads” – which seemingly
answers the question we raised last year about advertisers seeking packages that include both digital
and linear.

If one is concerned about missing out on the annual commercial tradition, the ‘Super
Bowl Ad Man’ is maintaining a playlist
on YouTube which should include all of the humorous and contemporary moments.

In 2014, approximately 528,000 unique viewers streamed the Super Bowl. By how
large a margin will that amount increase for 2015? Super Bowl XLIX officially
begins at 6 p.m. EST, Sunday Feb. 1 on NBC.